Julia E. Torres is a nationally recognized veteran language arts teacher, librarian, and teen programs administrator in Denver, Colorado. Julia facilitates teacher development workshops rooted in the areas of anti-racist education, equity and access in literacy and librarianship, and education as a practice of liberation. Julia's work has been featured on NPR, AlJazeera’s The Stream, PBS Education, KQED’s MindShift, Rethinking Schools, Learning for Justice Magazine, School Library Journal, American Libraries Magazine, and many more.

She is a Book Love Foundation board member, Educolor Working Group member, a Book Ambassador for The Educator Collaborative, and a co-founder of #DisruptTexts. Her co-authored title Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Teens and Tweens is just the first of many forthcoming publications for librarians and educators.

Valerie Tagoe brings 24 years of experience in education and libraries to her work with schools, districts and public libraries. As a successful grant writer & published author, she has secured funding to support programs for school and public libraries. She has held numerous leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels.

Currently, Valerie serves as the 25-26 President -Elect of YALSA, the 25-26 Editor of the Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults. She co‑authored Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Tweens and Teens with Julia Torres.